Kitchen Concrete Design Options

As you may know, plain concrete slabs have served as the flooring material for basements, garages, patios, and utility areas for many years, but concrete is now also a viable material in modern homes, where it can be found in polished, etched, or stained form on the floors of any room in the house.

BENEFITS TO CONCRETE FLOORING

Durability: Concrete flooring is extremely tough and resilient and is able to withstand the pressure from very heavy equipment, such as cars, trucks, forklifts, and stacked crates. That is why it is such a popular material for hard-working commercial areas, such as garages and warehouses.

Durability also means that the material is difficult to damage. High heels, furniture legs, and pet claws will not scratch the surface. You also don’t have to worry about damage from most dropped items. While it is possible to chip or scratch a concrete surface, you will generally have to work pretty hard to do so.

Easy maintenance: Keeping a concrete floor looking its best requires a minimum amount of maintenance. It will need to be sealed or waxed every 3 to 9 months, depending on the level of traffic, in order to maintain the protective layer over its surface. Other than that, you can use a neutral cleaning agent to mop the floor clean periodically. A blue utility pad can be used for particularly stubborn stains.

Environmentally friendliness? In most cases, a concrete subfloor already exists beneath another flooring material in both on-grade and below-grade locations. That means that “installing” a concrete floor means just uninstalling whatever has been placed over it. Because no new material is produced, there is no carbon footprint or depletion of resources.

Versatility: As long as the concrete is smooth and free from holes, bumps, and defects, you have the choice of installing any floor surface covering over it at a later date, should you choose—although may floor coverings will require an interim underlayment. Concrete floors allow you a lot of future design freedom.

Long-lasting: A sealed and properly maintained concrete floor can last indefinitely. Even in commercial applications, concrete can survive under high-traffic conditions for many decades. Over the long run, this can save you a considerable amount of money and effort over replacing flooring every few years.

Design flexibility: When most people think of concrete floors, they think of ugly gray utilitarian surfaces with sharp bumpy textures. However modern advances in mixing and setting have allowed designers to achieve an almost endless variety of color and texture effects with this versatile material.

In some cases, coloration is mixed directly into the concrete before the slab is placed. For already-installed floors, you can acid-stain the surface, use an appropriate dye or staining agent, or paint over it with a waterproof latex paint.

The texture of the concrete can be made perfectly smooth during the installation process. Alternatively, decorative textural patterns can be molded into the surface while it is still setting. You also have the option of polishing the material to a smooth sheen or etching it to create a faux tile effect.

Plus, concrete is extremely durable, long-lasting and easy to maintain. If your home or business has existing concrete subfloors, exposing them and applying a decorative treatment is an affordable and environmentally friendly option.

WHERE ARE CONCRETE FLOORS USED?

Kitchen:

No other room gets as much use as the kitchen, so it needs to have the most durable flooring surface possible. Concrete can withstand the foot traffic and elements that kitchen floor surfaces are exposed to, while also bringing endless design options to the table. Plus, there aren’t any joints or grout lines to trap dirt or spills, so clean-up is a breeze. See more about kitchen flooring.

Entry, Foyer, Mudroom:

Make a great first impression with a stylish entry, foyer or mudroom decorative floor. Concrete’s easy care, ability to handle heavy foot traffic and resist staining make it the perfect choice for busy areas where dirt, mud and water might get tracked in. Read more about how to create a grand entrance.

Bathroom:

When deciding on flooring for a bathroom, you want something that is stylish, durable, resistant to moisture and spills, as well as low maintenance. Concrete checks all of those boxes. Radiant heating can also be installed to keep the floor comfortable for bare feet.

Basement:

Concrete is an exceptionally good choice for basement flooring due to its moisture resistance in these areas that are typically subject to ground moisture and possible flooding. With concrete, you can avoid mold and mildew problems and having to pull up and replace damp carpet or damaged wood flooring. Add a fun feature of hopscotch or shuffleboard into the design.

Garage:

With many garages being used as extensions of living space, why not make them as attractive as the rest of the home. Looks can range from sealed or polished basic gray to more complex color combinations. Add colored flecks for a terrazzo look or a custom design with brightly colored epoxy coatings.

Commercial:

Concrete combines durability for heavy use, high-traffic areas with endless customization options. These two factors combine to make it a perfect choice for retail stores, restaurants and bars, offices, churches, schools, medical institutions, and industrial buildings, making it possible to incorporate your company logo, colors or theme right into the floor.

Most people don’t even know how many ways concrete floor surfaces can be finished in various ways such as using colors, stains, and aggregates plus it can be given a textured surface or buffed until glassy. Concrete floors are extremely durable and easy to clean, and they resist water when properly sealed. Concrete flooring works well with radiant heating, and the surface absorbs heat to cut energy bills. Yeah, what a plus…

OPTIONS & STYLES

On the subject of available options and styles, here are some popular choices to consider:

• For the cost-conscious consumer, a basic one-pattern design can keep costs down while still providing a beautifully polished look for your floor.
• For a step up design-wise, saw cuts and patterns can provide added visual interest for minimal additional cost.
• The use of multiple dyes along with scoring saw cuts, and air brushing can create a stunning look that livens up your entire room.
• The use of stencils, divider strips, and decorative embeds can give your floors a one-of-a-kind look that is a focal point for your home.

ADVANTAGES

• Can be designed for any budget
• Unlimited creative options
• Requires little maintenance
• Will last for decades (50+ years)
• Resists moisture and stains when properly sealed
• Pet friendly
• Reduces allergens in the home
• Can be heated with a radiant system
• Free of VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

Polished concrete is measured in grades and finishes: the higher the grade, the larger the exposed aggregates; similarly, the higher the finish, the shinier the polish.

Properly polished concrete is naked concrete.

A properly prepared polished concrete surface is any concrete (whether new or old) repeatedly buffed by increasingly finer diamond grits through a mechanical process until the natural concrete develops a high-gloss shine, which reflects light and grows clearer over time.

No wax or sealer is used. No volatile chemicals are used. Minimal waste is produced. The shine is naturally produced with diamond buffing only. Nothing to chip, fade or peel. Floors require minimal maintenance and last a lifetime, even in industrial applications.

Hardworking, low maintenance, versatile, affordable, and in it for the long term, polished concrete is an undeniably appealing floor choice.

Fun Fact: The difference is between concrete and cement is that cement is a component of concrete: Sidewalks are made of concrete, not cement.